Evenly Matched
By Sera mathews
Is it terrifying to go out into the world without wearing make-up to conceal your true self?
It’s not that you shouldn’t wear makeup, but you shouldn’t feel obliged or compelled to feel you need to cover up due to being embarrassed of the way your skin looks.
So, identify what your skin wants and needs so that then those of us that may well feel self-conscious, about say having an uneven skin tone, know there is always a solution besides make-up.
We are all of course aware that as the temperatures increase, the repercussions of the sun come into play. We know we should be wearing SPF, especially on bright, sunny days because UV exposure causes more damage and to those with hyperpigmentation, the sun will cause more dark patches.
This is when melanin production goes into overdrive due to too much sunlight and can uneven skin tones. Whether you are 15 or 50, along with visible disparities, self-confidence can certainly be affected.
If you suffer from hyperpigmentation, you may not expose your skin due to lack of self-confidence and will probably end up using makeup to cover up.
For centuries women have been obsessed with evened out skin whether it was in 4000 BCE, when Egyptian women used galena mesdemet (a mixture of lead ore and copper) or malachite (a green blend of copper minerals) to whiten their skins.
The Grecians used chalk years later and egg whites became popular in Elizabethan England. In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth 1st of England led facial trends when she used white lead paint to lighten her sun-exposed skin in a look she invented called ‘The Mask of Youth’.
Generally, people wanted the whitest skin, it suggested wealth because it meant not having to go outside and work in the fields where getting caught in the sun would give darker skin tones.
But though lightening creams have existed ever since, and as suntanning became the fashion for women, those suffering hyperpigmentation were now more desperate for a way to fit into the new tanning trend.
No thanks to Coco Chanel, who introduced it to the world when she accidentally sunburned herself on holiday in 1923, and suddenly having a tan meant wealth, and so began the obsession with glowing even skin.
But suntans also lead to severe health issues. And according to the World Health Organization, there is no such concept as a healthy tan. Besides its most harmful effect – skin cancer – tanning outside or inside could also speed up the visibility of aging and cause dark patches.
So now as we learn more and more about the ways our skin works, we can find far healthy ways to deal with skin issues. It is true that there are days that we don’t want to adorn ourselves with makeup and we want our skin to feel free of cosmetics. So, for those who suffer from hyperpigmentation, there is a great new solution; Bioderma’s Pigmentbio collection is on its way of conquering an issue that has haunted many women and men.
The French brand has launched a Pigmentbio Foaming Cream – a gentle cleanser that diminishes the dark spots and helps illuminate the skin by exfoliation. The cleanser is enriched with critic acid which enhancing UV-sensitivity. The moisturising elements boosts skin hydration leaving it comfortable and radiant.
The Pigmentbio C-Concentrate is a skin tone corrector infused with high doses of the only existent beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), besides AHA and Vitamin C. Salicylic acid, with BHA is an anti-acne warrior. As an anti-inflammatory ingredient it is also lipophilic (attracted to oils). So, it not only exfoliates the top layer but also unclogs the sweat glands beneath, hence eliminating white and blackheads.
To protect your skin further, Pigmentbio Daily Care SPF 50 is a treat as it not only elevates cell regeneration, but its LumiReveal Technology provides high photoprotection which diminishes the over-produced melanin levels. It contains a blend of vitamins C, E and PP to brighten skin tones.
The mixture of vitamins C and E synergise to create a skin barrier, shield the skin from UVA/UVB radiation, pollution and oxidative stress that activates premature aging. Vitamin PP acts as a moisturiser and strengthens the cutaneous boundary. Overall, this product leaves a pearly texture and glides smoothly on the skin.
So, to dismiss any prominent beliefs, there are alternatives to second-guessing your beauty and never be embarrassed, because darling, everyone is beautiful when they’re confident in their own skin.
